Newsletter

Adyson Loveridge
Herriman, UT
Accounting
Leadership Engagement

HintonBurdick Tax Internship

For my EDGE project, I worked January - April 2018 as an intern for HintonBurdick CPA’s and Advisors. This internship gave me real life experience in preparing tax returns for members of the community.  I chose this project after preparing tax returns with SUU VITA in 2017. Because of my experience there, I knew this would be an internship and EDGE project I would enjoy. HintonBurdick is the largest tax preparation company in Southern Utah and I definitely enjoyed working with them. 

As an intern with HintonBurdick CPA’s, I learned to use new software programs, develop communication skills, and enhance problem solving abilities. The strengths earned through this project boosted my job skills while allowing me to work within my local community. This internship also made me a better leader amongst my peers due to the hands-on experience with tax preparation and interaction with licensed CPAs. Most importantly, this project gave me a good idea of what it would be like working full-time for a small-town CPA office. 

As mentioned above, the inspiration for my project came from volunteering for SUU's VITA program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistant). While volunteering, I interacted one-on-one with low-income members of the community to discuss their taxes and help them prepare a return. I enjoyed learning about different people, inputting their information into the tax software, and ideally helping them get a good return. Though it may seem strange, I grew a love for doing taxes and wanted more opportunities to do so. In looking for internship opportunities and preparing for my EDGE project, I found a tax preparation internship with HintonBurdick CPAs and Advisors. Because of VITA, I knew this was a great opportunity and scheduled an interview immediately. 

One of the biggest challenges during my internship was the need for constant perseverance. Unlike VITA, this form of tax preparation did not entail meeting with those I was preparing the taxes for. Thus, some days in my small lonely cubicle seemed very long. While I found satisfaction in successfully completing a tax return, there were always 10 more returns to complete once I had finished the one. By Friday afternoons, I was exhausted and ready for a break from tax returns. Overcoming this challenge consisted of maintaining a good attitude and taking time after work to relax or focus on anything other than taxes. 

Despite the challenge of working on my own, I know I was able to benefit others through this internship. First, the clients were benefited. They could rely on my training and attention to detail in making sure their returns were prepared correctly. Second, I was also able to benefit the partners at my firm. The partners do not have time to prepare tax returns for all of their clients and thus rely heavily on interns to do the grunt work. I felt like a contributing part of the firm because I knew that with each return I prepared, I was directly helping one of the company's executives. 

As for myself, I learned a lot about taxes, my career options, and myself. Because every return is different, understanding different tax laws is essential. For example, I had to learn when meals are deductible, what information is important for itemizing deductions, and how to account for tuition and grants. This information, along with experience, showed me all I have left to learn before starting a career in tax. I now understand how stressful tax season really is for a CPA, and what I am signing up for by following this career path. I also learned more about myself, such as how I handle pressure and how I communicate problems or questions.

"I humbled myself and looked to peers and superiors for insights and clarifications. I feel this is an important characteristic for leaders, to acknowledge that one does not in fact know everything."

 - January 26, 2018

"[A] willingness to follow-up...proved a desire to do well and a desire to learn. Since then, I have received much more feedback and learned a lot more about the tax preparation process."

 - February 2, 2018